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Saint Arnold Brewing production up 22% to nearly 50k barrels in 2012

Posted on January 29, 2013 at 12:11 pm by Adam Nason

Press Release:

(Houston, TX) – Saint Arnold Brewing Company, the oldest craft brewery in Texas, today reported record shipments of more than 49,000 barrels of beer in 2012. It was the second consecutive year that the brewery’s production has increased by approximately 9,000 barrels from the previous year, representing a 22 percent boost in overall production. It was the eighth time in the past nine years that Saint Arnold’s production has increased by more than 20 percent.

The brewery’s 2012 production is seven times the amount of beer Saint Arnold brewed in all of 2003, the year production reached 7,000 barrels for the first time.

Year Production % Growth

2012 49,119 barrels 22 percent

2011 40,416 barrels 29 percent

2010 31,445 barrels 22 percent

2009 25,710 barrels 13 percent

2008 22,749 barrels 28 percent

2007 17,811 barrels 30 percent

2006 13,636 barrels 25 percent

2005 10,946 barrels 20 percent

2004 9,100 barrels 27 percent

2003 7,000 barrels 17 percent

“We have been in our new brewery for three years now. It has allowed us to increase production on our existing beers while also bringing to fruition all of the recipe development we have been working on,” said Brock Wagner, founder/brewer of Saint Arnold Brewing. “Test brewing is probably the favorite activity of our brewing team, and the addition of the barrel room has opened the door further to what we can do.”

Saint Arnold Bishop’s Barrel, introduced in November, features small batches of a variety of barrel aged beers, bottled and distributed only to bars and restaurants. Bishop’s Barrel No. 2, which will be an Old Ale in Chardonnay barrels with cherries, is scheduled for release next month. Saint Arnold ICON, introduced in December, is a new line of rotating beers that will complement the brewery’s year-round and seasonal offerings. A different Saint Arnold ICON beer will be released approximately quarterly, with a Cascadian Dark Ale due in March. Saint Arnold Divine Reserve No. 13, a Belgian Quaddruppel, also is scheduled for release in March.

As a group, Saint Arnold’s rotating lineup of seasonal beers remained its top seller, with production up 32 percent. Saint Arnold Fancy Lawnmower Beer remained the brewery’s number one year-round label for the fourth consecutive year, followed by Saint Arnold Amber Ale and Santo. Saint Arnold Elissa was the fastest growing year-round beer for which year-over-year comparisons are possible (Santo was introduced in October 2011), with production up 12 percent.

Louisiana and Austin were Saint Arnold’s fastest growing markets, posting increases of 62 percent and 30 percent respectively. Dallas/Fort Worth and San Antonio were close behind, growing 29 percent for the year.

Saint Arnold also participated in ‘Hops for Heroes,’ in 2012. The initiative brought together craft breweries, suppliers and distributors to produce and market Homefront IPA, a collaborative beer to support Operation Homefront. In July, Saint Arnold presented checks totaling more than $100,000 to Operation Homefront Texas.

“We have our hands full in 2013 already, with at least three new Bishop’s Barrel beers, three new beers in the ICON line and at least two Divine Reserve releases, in addition to plans for launching our kitchen and serving lunch for the first time,” said Wagner.

About Saint Arnold Brewing Company

Saint Arnold Brewing’s 13 brews are made and sold by the company’s staff of 45 dedicated employees. Ranked 43rd on the Brewers Association list of top craft breweries, Saint Arnold was listed by USA Today as one of the “10 great places to see what’s brewing in beer,” and Smart Meetings magazine named it among the “Top 5 breweries to host an event.” Saint Arnold is located at 2000 Lyons Avenue and its brewery tour and tasting is offered every weekday at 3:00 P.M. and Saturdays starting at 11 A.M. For more information on Saint Arnold’s five year-round and five seasonal beers as well as root beer, log on to www.saintarnold.com.